DeSantis wrote the book Dreams From Our Founding Fathers in late 2011. The book, a critique of Obama’s worldview and a call for a return to the framers’ principles, prompted DeSantis to run for political office.[3]

DeSantis won re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in the primary election. He then defeated David Cox (D) in the general election on November 4, 2014.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, DeSantis is a more moderate right of center Republican Party vote. As a result, he may break with the Republican Party line more than his fellow members.

Biography

DeSantis was born in Jacksonville, FL, on September 14, 1978.[5] DeSantis wrote the book Dreams From Our Founding Fathers in late 2011. The book, a critique of Obama’s worldview and a call for a return to the framers’ principles, prompted DeSantis to run for political office.[6]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of DeSantis' academic, professional and political career:[7]

Key votes

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 114 out of the 3,036 introduced bills (3.8 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[11] For more information pertaining to DeSantis's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[12]

National security

DHS Appropriations

DeSantis voted in favor of HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act (2014) Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.[13]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

DeSantis voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.[13]

CISPA (2013)

DeSantis voted in opposition to HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.[14] The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.[13]

NDAA

DeSantis voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.[13]

Economy

Farm bill

On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[15] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[16][17] However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[17] DeSantis voted with 62 other Republicanrepresentatives against the bill.

2014 Budget

On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[18][19] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.[19] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[20] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency and protected the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. DeSantis joined with the 63 other Republicans and 3 Democrats who voted against the bill.[18][19]

Government shutdown

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[21] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[22] DeSantis voted to approve the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[23]

The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[24] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. DeSantis voted against HR 2775.[25]

2013 Farm Bill

In July 2013 the Republican controlled House narrowly passed a scaled-back version of the farm bill after stripping out the popular food-stamp program.[26][27] The bill passed on a 216-208 vote, with no Democrats voting in favor.[28] All but 12 Republicans supported the measure.[29] The group consisted mostly of conservative lawmakers more concerned about spending than farm subsidies.[29][30] DeSantis was one of the 12 who voted against the measure.[29]

The farm bill historically has included both billions in farm subsidies and billions in food stamps. Including both of the two massive programs has in the past helped win support from rural-state lawmakers and those representing big cities.[28] After the bill failed in the House in June 2013 amid opposition from rank-and-file Republicans, House leaders removed the food stamp portion in a bid to attract conservative support.[28]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

DeSantis voted in favor of House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain illegal aliens residing in the United States. The vote largely followed party lines.[13]

Healthcare

Healthcare Reform Rules

DeSantis voted in favor of House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.[13]

Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act

DeSantis voted in favor of HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.[13]

Social issues

Amash amendment

DeSantis voted in favor of House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.[13]

Issues

On The Issues Vote Match

On The Issues conducts a VoteMatch analysis of elected officials based on 20 issue areas. Rather than relying on incumbents to complete the quiz themselves, the VoteMatch analysis is conducted using voting records, statements to the media, debate transcripts or citations from books authored by or about the candidate. Based on the results of the quiz, DeSantis is a Libertarian-Leaning Conservative. DeSantis received a score of 28 percent on social issues and 76 percent on economic issues.[34]

On The Issues organization logo.

The table below contains the results of analysis compiled by staff at On The Issues.

National security

American response in Syria

After taking part in the questioning of Secretary of State John Kerry in a House committee hearing, DeSantis said he was unconvinced the United States should attack Syria.[37]

“The Obama administration has not articulated a clear objective for using military force in Syria, much less a plan to achieve that objective,” DeSantis said in a statement released September 6, 2013.[37]

Elections

2014

DeSantis won re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He ran unopposed for the Republican nomination in the primary election. He then defeated David Cox (D) in the general election on November 4, 2014.[39]

Endorsements

2012

DeSantis ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Florida's6th District. DeSantis won the nomination on the Republican ticket.[41] Candidates wishing to run were required to file by the signature filing deadline of June 8, 2012. The primary elections were held on August 14, 2012. DeSantis won the nomination in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012.[42][1] He won the election on November 6, 2012.[43]

Campaign donors

Fundraising events

Comprehensive donor history

Comprehensive donor information for DeSantis is available dating back to 2012. Based on available campaign finance records, DeSantis raised a total of $2,256,481 during that time period. This information was last updated on January 26, 2015.[45]

2012

DeSantis won election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that election cycle, DeSantis's campaign committee raised a total of $1,145,859 and spent $1,122,042.[55] This is less than the average $1.5 million spent by House winners in 2012.[56]

PGI: Change in net worth

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, DeSantis's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $-63,998 and $-9,001. That averages to $-36,499.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2012 of $6,956,438.47. DeSantis ranked as the 428th most wealthy representative in 2012.[57] Between 2011 and 2012, DeSantis' calculated net worth[58] decreased by an average of 214 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[59]

Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[61]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). DeSantis received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Retired industry.

From 2011-2014, 30.8 percent of DeSantis' career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.[62]

Lifetime voting record

According to the website GovTrack, DeSantis missed 0 of 89 roll call votes from January 2013 to August 2014. This amounts to 0.0 percent, which is better than the median of 2.5 percent among current congressional representatives as of August 2014.[65]

↑The questions in the quiz are broken down into two sections -- social and economic. In social questions, liberals and libertarians agree in choosing the less-government answers, while conservatives and populists agree in choosing the more-restrictive answers. For the economic questions, conservatives and libertarians agree in choosing the less-government answers, while liberals and populists agree in choosing the more-restrictive answers.